The Abuja Environmental Protection Board and Save the Children International (SCI) have harped on the need for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of planting trees to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Speaking at the Climate and Sensitisation Activity and Tree planting event to celebrate the World Environment at Piwoyi Community in Abuja the Advocacy Campaign Policy Manager, SCI, Mr Ifedilichukwu Innocent, noted that the effect of climate change is on the rise and children continue to bear the brunt of it most.
He said, “We are using this opportunity to also encourage school children to also be part of the tree planting. What that is doing is helping them to know is that they have to work hard to safeguard the environment.
He highlighted the benefits of tree planting to range from health, to economic among others, saying the action informs children about their environment and helps them to work towards safeguarding it.
The SCI official urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tree planting to promote a green environment and tackle climate change.
Deputy Director Environmental Management Department of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Ms Rebecca Mamven said the theme for this year’s World Environment Day is Land Restoration, Rehabilitation and Drought Resilience.
Mamven explained that AEPB’s purpose is to sensitise communities to seeks ways to restore the land back from degradation and stop desertification.
She added that the board was also working to promote drought resilience with planting of different types of trees and plants.
“In the north especially, we experience drought a lot. So we are here to celebrate this day with our childrenand to teach them how to address these things.”
Mrs Pauline Nwagugu, Deputy Director, Education and Principal, Junior Secondary school Piwoyi, commended the stakeholders for brining the tree planting project to the school.
Nwagugu said she is a lover of green environment and has been plating tress in the school since she was transfered there.
She however,expressed gratitude that the students were being carried along to promote green environment and assured the group of the school’s commitment to sustain the project.
The Chief of Piwoyi, Tanko Bahago, said the idea of planting trees in communities and schools was a welcome development.
Tanko said that the community had plans to plant trees around but was waiting for the rainy season to do that.
He thanked the stakeholders for the initiative and for remembering his community for such a laudable project.
